Generation and customization of personalized avatars

Abstract

The generation and customization of personalized avatars is based on matching a user's image to computer game avatars by identifying which game avatar the user is closest to resembling. A database of avatar images from various games is established and updated as game publishers upload new avatars to it, refreshing the database as new games are released. Users upload their own picture following preset guidelines and image fingerprinting is used, e.g., using perceptual hashing techniques, to detect the closest avatar in similarity to the user. Alternatively, an image of the user can be combined with an image of an avatar to render a morphed avatar image.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 at least one computer memory that is not a transitory signal and that comprises instructions executable by at least one processor to:   receive at least one image of at least one human user:   execute a perceptual hash on the image to render a hash result;   select from a data store of computer game avatars a closest avatar based at least in part on a hash associated with the closest avatar being a closest match to the hash result; and   return the closest avatar to a computer game device as an avatar associated with the human user.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the perceptual hash is a p-hash. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable to:
 present on at least one display a prompt for the human user to enable the closest avatar to represent a character in a computer game; and   responsive to a selection to enable the closest avatar to represent a character in a computer game, identify at least one transaction for the user to remit remuneration.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable to:
 present on at least one display a prompt for the human user to input an image of the human user having a delineated characteristic for use in comparing to the avatars in the data store.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the delineated characteristic is a full-face view. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the delineated characteristic is a face and body view. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the data store is updated with avatars of new computer games pursuant to the new computers games being published. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising the at least one processor. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one computer storage comprising instructions executable by at least one processor; and   at least one processor configured to access the instructions for:   receiving at least one image of at least one human user;   blending the image of the user with an image of an avatar of a computer game to render a morphed avatar, and   returning the morphed avatar to a computer game device as an avatar associated with the human user.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions are executable to:
 present on at least one display a prompt for the human user to enable the morphed avatar to represent a character in a computer game; and   responsive to a selection to enable the morphed avatar to represent a character in a computer game, identify at least one transaction for the user to remit remuneration.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions are executable to:
 present on at least one display a prompt for the human user to input an image of the human user having a delineated characteristic for use in rendering the morphed avatar.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the delineated characteristic is a full-face view. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the delineated characteristic is a face and body view. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the avatar of a computer game is stored in a data store of computer game avatars. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the data store is updated with avatars of new computer games pursuant to the new computers games being published. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions are executable to:
 present a prompt on a display to select the avatar of a computer game from a set of avatars.   
     
     
         17 . A method, comprising:
 receiving at least one image of at least one human; and   based at least in part on the image, returning an avatar for a computer game.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein returning the avatar comprises:
 executing a hash of the image to render a hash result;   selecting from a data store of computer game avatars a closest avatar based at least in part on a hash associated with the closest avatar being a closest match to the hash result; and   returning the closest avatar to a computer game device as an avatar associated with the user.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein returning the avatar comprises:
 blending the image with an avatar of a computer game to render a morphed avatar; and   returning the morphed avatar to a computer game device as an avatar associated with the user.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising monetizing the returning step.